Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Zanmukey&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Zanmukey’ characterized by its small sized blooms with light green blooms and a dark green center, with prolific branching; natural season flowering date September 28; blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zanmukey’.

RELATED CULTIVARS

This new plant cultivar ‘Zanmukey’ is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat., commercially known as a garden mum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar denomination ‘Zanmukey’. ‘Zanmukey’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for outdoor pot mums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating new cultivars with a double type inflorescence, a natural season flowering date around September 28, blooming for a period of 5 weeks. ‘Zanmukey’ is a seedling resulting from a cross of the female parent 36.3379 (unpatented) with the male parent 10-010389 (unpatented). Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmukey’ differ from plants of the female parent in the following characteristics. (1) Inflorescence color—Blooms of the seedling are light green, while those of the female parent are white. (2). Inflorescence size—Blooms of the seedling are smaller than those of the female parent. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmukey’ differ from plants of the male parent in the following characteristic. (1) Plant shape—the plant shape of the seedling is round, while that of the male parent is more erect.

The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant by Henricus Cornelius Maria Jacobs on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May 2011. The first act of asexual production of ‘Zanmukey’ was accomplished in July 2011 when vegetative cuttings from the initial selection were propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, the Netherlands. In summer, about 6-8 days are needed to initiate roots in cuttings of the new cultivar, after another 5 days rooted plants are formed. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum (of about 19 weeks) is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The observations and measurements were gathered from plants in the period of 17 to 22 weeks of age grown outdoor in Rijsenhout, the Netherlands, under natural day length and temperature and planted in week 23 in 2015, receiving drip irrigation. The natural blooming date of this crop was September 28 (week 40) . The average height of the plants was 40 cm. No growth retardants were used. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces small sized blooms with light green ray florets blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

From the cultivars known to the inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Zanmukey’ is ‘Zanmusundown’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,164). When ‘Zanmusundown’ and ‘Zanmukey’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: (1). Color ray-florets. And (2). Plant vigor. (1). Ray-florets of ‘Zanmukey’ are green colored, while those of ‘Zanmusundown’ are yellow. (2). Plants of ‘Zanmukey’ are more vigorous than those of ‘Zanmusundown.’

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Zanmukey’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat. ‘Zanmukey’ Bud Size: Small; cross-section 5 mm, height 4 mm Shape: Round Texture: Pubescent Outside color: Green 138B Phyllaries Number: 25-27, arranged in 3 rows Shape: Elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Truncate Margin: Entire Color: Upper side: Green 137C Lower side: Green 138A Length and width: 4-6 mm; 2 mm Texture: Pubescent Inflorescences Type: Double Height: 1 cm Diameter: 3.5 cm Peduncle length: 5-6 cm Peduncle color: Green 138B Peduncle diameter: 1.5 mm Peduncle texture: Pubescent Number per branch: About 8-9 inflorescences Duration of flowering: 5 weeks Fragrance: Typical chrysanthemum odor Color inflorescences Center of inflorescence : Green 143C Color of upper Outer rows: Yellow-green 150B; side of ray florets: Inner rows: Green 143C Color of lower Outer rows: Yellow-green 150C; side of ray florets: Inner rows: Green 143C Tonality from distance: A garden mum with light green blooms and a dark green center Color of ray florets after Yellow-green 150C to 150D aging of the plant: Ray florets Number of types: Two Type: Outer rows: Ligulate; Inner rows: Quilled Texture: Upper and lower side smooth Number: 210-220 Shape: Outer rows: Elliptic; Inner rows: Narrowly elliptic Apex: Outer rows: Dentate; Inner rows: Rounded Base: Acute Cross-section: Outer rows: Flat; Inner rows: Circular Longitudinal axis: Outer rows: Straight; Inner rows: Incurving Length of corolla tube: 1-2 mm Diameter corolla tube: 1 mm Ray floret margin: Entire Ray floret length: Outer rows: 1.5 cm; Inner rows: 0.7 cm Ray-floret width: Outer rows: 3 mm; Inner rows: 1 mm Disc florets Disc diameter: 1-2 mm Distribution of disc florets: Very few, only occasionally visible in mature stage of inflorescence Shape: Tubular Color: Yellow-green 145C at base to Green Yellow 11D at apex Length: 4 mm Diameter: 0.8 mm Receptacle Color: Yellow-green 145D Shape: Domed raised Height: 2 mm Diameter: 3 mm Reproductive Organs Androecium: Present on only disc florets Stamen length: 3 mm Stamen color: Yellow-green 144A Anther color: Yellow 2A Pollen: Scarce Pollen color: Yellow 12A Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets Style color: Yellow-green 154C Style length: 4 mm Stigma color: Yellow 7A Stigma width: 1 mm Ovary: Enclosed in calyx Ovary color: Yellow-green 149D Seed set: Has not been determined to date Plant Type: Non-bushy Growth habit: Spherical shape Growth rate: Medium Height: 40 cm Width: 45 cm Stem color: Greyed-brown 199B Stem strength: Not strong Stem brittleness: Brittle Stem anthocyanin coloration: Absent Internode length: 0.8-2 cm Length of lateral branch: From top to bottom 19-23 cm Lateral branch color: Green 137C Lateral branch, attachment: Weak Lateral branch diameter: 2 mm Lateral branch, texture: Pubescent with ribs Branching (average number Dense with 12 breaks after pinching of lateral branches): Natural season blooming date: September 28 (week 40) in Rijsenhout, the Netherlands Roots—habits: Fine, freely branching Roots—color: White 155A Foliage Glossiness: Leaf upper side: weak; Leaf lower side: absent Leaf color: Upper side: Green 147D; Lower side: Green 138A Color midvein: Upper side: Yellow-green 147D; Lower side: Yellow-green 148D Size: Small; length 4-8 cm, width 1.3-4.2 cm Quantity (number per 14-16 lateral branches): Shape: Elliptic Texture upper side: Sparsely pubescent Texture under side: Pubescent Venation arrangement: Pinnate Shape of margin: Serrated Shape of base of sinus Rounded between lateral lobes: Margin of sinus between Diverging lateral lobes: Shape of base: Acute to truncate Apex: Mucronulate Petiole strength: Weak Petiole attitude: Moderately upwards Petiole length: 0.8-1 cm Petiole diameter: 1.5 mm Petiole color: Yellow-green 147D Stipule: When present, very small

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison variety, when grown under identical conditions ‘Zanmukey’ ‘Zanmusundown’ Color ray-florets Yellow-green 150B Yellow 12A Plant height 40 cm 25 cm 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmukey’ as described and illustrated. 